Illinois State University’s College of Education moved up in the U.S. News and World Report rankings of the top graduate schools in America.
The 2007 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” lists the College of Education (COE) at 77th, up from 93rd in last year’s rankings.
“An important part of Illinois State’s heritage is its internationally respected education college,” said President Al Bowman. “The rankings show that even an already outstanding program can improve.
“Rankings are based on quality assessment, student selectivity, faculty resources and research activity. Illinois State’s COE increased their scores in seven areas to achieve the higher ranking. Those areas included doctoral students’ GRE (graduate record examinations) scores; school superintendents rating of COE program quality; percentage of doctoral applicants that were accepted into COE doctoral programs; percentage of full-time COE faculty holding awards such as Fulbright Fellowships, Carnegie Corporation Scholars Awards or editorships among selected education journals; number of doctoral degrees granted in the previous school year; and percentage of degree-seeking graduate students enrolled in doctoral programs.
“This recognition is a powerful affirmation that Illinois State continues to meet its goal to serve as a state and national leader in graduate and continuing education,” said COE Dean Deborah Curtis. “This acknowledgement establishes Illinois State’s position as a national leader with this upward movement to 77th among the nation’s top 100 graduate programs. The faculty and departmental leaders will continue to strive for excellence in our graduate programs responding to our Illinois State University commitment to provide the field with more and more highly qualified graduates.”
